AP Economics students gain real-world experience at New York Stock Exchange

Posted 12/22/2017 10:16AM

AP Economics students gain real-world experience at New York Stock Exchange

Sixteen of Holy Ghost Prep’s AP Economics students toured the financial district and visited the New York Stock Exchange for the closing bell on Dec. 15.

The group left Trenton Transit Center at 8:30 a.m. and traveled by train to the World Trade Center and began a guided tour of the history of the financial district in the Oculus station. Other tour stops included visits to the 9/11 Memorial and its “survivor tree,” Alexander Hamilton’s grave, the famous “charging bull” and “fearless girl,” historic Stone Street, the Merchant’s Exchange Building, Morgan Bank Building, Federal Hall (the site of George Washington’s inauguration), a U.S. customs house, and Zucotti Park (the center of the Occupy Wall Street protest).

After lunch at Hudson Eats in Brookfield Place overlooking the Hudson River, the HGP students then toured the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)—meeting with market makers, representatives on the exchange who facilitate the buying and selling of stocks; touring the trading floor, the NYSE podium and bell; checking out the various media outlets at the NYSE, including CNBC anchors Bill Griffeth and Kelly Evans; celebrated the closing bell with CEO Howard Lance of Maxar Technologies to highlight their new listing on the NYSE.

The visit to the Stock Exchange was made possible by George Rusnak, head of global fixed income at Wells Fargo and father to HGP senior George Rusnak. The cost of the field trip for students was also fully funded by an anonymous donor.

“It’s the real-world opportunities like this New York City trip that alums and current parents provide us with that really make the difference between a Holy Ghost Prep education and one at another high school,” says HGP senior Eric D’Angelo, who will head to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. “So many people connected with Holy Ghost genuinely want to give back by helping current HGP students however they can—whether that’s by granting us access to the Stock Exchange, offering career advice, and being willing to answer any questions we might have.”